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3 · OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, September 23, 2009 New MADD film drives home sobering message Wasted has tearful debut at WOSS By Tina Depko OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF If this year's Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) multimedia presentation was intended to make students fully grasp the consequences of drinking and driving, it seemed to do exactly that. Many students who saw the Canadian debut of the presentation at White Oaks Secondary School last week were moved to tears by the end of the film. Gasps could also be heard in the packed gymnasium during the film. The movie, called Wasted, tells the story of four ordinary high school students whose lives, and those of their families, are changed forever following a car accident. The student at the wheel is drunk and high when he crashes into a tree with two other students in the car. He survives, but his best friend is killed instantly and his girlfriend suffers severe brain injuries. All of the families impacted are inconsolable. Wasted ends with testimonials from real families, whose children have been killed as a result of impaired driving crashes. "The video was actually pretty intense," said Grade 11 student Greg Mendelin. "Seeing the bodies and the after effect on the families was overwhelming." The MADD presentation will be shown in schools across the country for the next 10 months. It is intended to be a sobering message, as road crashes are the number one cause of teen deaths in Canada, with an estimated 45 per cent of those crashes being alcohol related, according to statistics gathered by MADD. "It was really touching and made me think a lot about my family and how much I love them," said Laura Wheeler, a Grade 12 student, through tears. "I've never been in a situation like that, but I know what I would RIZIERO VERTOLLI /OAKVILLE BEAVER WASTED: A scene from the Canadian premiere of Wasted, a new MADD multimedia presentation that debuted at White Oaks Secondary School last week. do. I would never want to put family through something like what we saw in the movie." The ripple effect of drinking and driving was brought home by Margaret Miller, president of MADD Canada. Her 26-year-old son, Bruce, was killed by a young drunk driver in 2004. After sharing the tragic tale of her son, she announced what was likely a shocking statistic to many in the room. She said that on average, four people are killed and more than 200 are seriously injured every day in Canada as a result of impaired driving crashes. One in three victims are under the age of 25. "Always drive sober and always make sure you don't get in the car with someone who has been drinking or doing drugs," Miller said. "We want you to arrive alive. You owe it to yourself and to your families." WOSS has hosted MADD presentations for the past six years, according to John Stieva, the school's principal. He said the message of not drinking and driving needs to be emphasized to students. "I think it is important for kids to see this message," he said. "There's a teenage mentality that `It won't happen to me, but if it does I can handle it', and that's when you need your friends to say, `No, you can't', take their keys away and know they should never get in a car with anyone that has been drinking." For information on MADD, visit www.madd.ca. YOUR PASSPORT TO THE WORLD Let our designers and product selection take you to another place. Elegance, Stylish, Sophisticated, or Sleek We can transform any space! We specialize in importing and distributing unique Ceramics, Porcelain, Travertine, Marble, Glass, Custom Medallions and mosiacs from Around the World. Ask about our Custom Glass Shower Doors & Floor Heating Tile selection made enjoyable! Factory Tile Depot www.factorytiledepot.ca